Method of producing organic acids



ARTHUR A. BACIEAUS, OI BALTIIOBE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB TO U. S. INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL 00., A CORPORATION OF WES! VIRGINIA.

mon 01' PRODUCING ORGANIC ACIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. s, 1921.

80 Drawing. Originalappllcaflbn filed October 82, 1917, Serial No. 197,886. lllvided and thin applicaflon fled January 29, 1919. Serial 10.278380,

To alZwh-omitmay concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. BACK- HAUS, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Producing Organic Acids, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descri tion thereof.

y invention relates articularly to a process of producing aci s'from materials of various kinds, but it has application especially to the production of acids from waste materials, as for example distiller waste or slop such as obtained from the istillation of alcohol.

The object of my invention is especially to utilize the waste obtained from the distillation of various. materials used in the production of ethyl alcohol.

More particularly, the object of my invention is to make use of waste materials obtained in the production of ethyl alcohol from molasses, which may, for example, be obtained in the manufacture of cane or beet sugar or from potatoes or grain, such as wheat, rye, barley, corn, etc.

An object of my invention is, furthermore, to obtain oxalic acid, as well as volatile organic acids.

An object of my invention, is, in addition, to provide a process of this character whereby the quantity of acids may be increased by the addition of catalysts.

A further object is to bring about the production of such acids more quickly and at lower temperatures than would be ssible without the presence of the catalysts.

Still another object of my invention is to make use of metallic oxids as such catalysts.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detailed description thereof contained hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I shall describe only certain forms of my invention hereinafter.

For example, I may proceed as follows: A quantity of the distillery waste or slop, having had the alcohol removed therefrom, is evaporated in the usual way to form a magma, which may have'a density of 25 B. or higher. This may be mixed in the proportion of twenty-five parts by weight of magma to eight parts b weight of a caustic alkali, as for examp e caustic soda and one part of the catalyst, 'which may be ferric oxid (Fe O man nese dioxid (MnO,), or cerium oxid Ce O The mixing is continued until the alkali has become completely dissolved. The mixture is thereupon heated to a temperature of from 160 to 250 C. for from 4 to 20 hours. Where the temperature is low, the treatment is for a longer period of time than where the temperature is higher. The effect of the heating is to bring about the acid, as well as volati e organic acids, in larger quantity and at a lower temperature, as well as more quickly, than would be the case if the catalyst were absent.

The oxalic acid and volatile organic acids may be recovered and separated in any suitable manner. However, by way-of example, I may proceed to recover and separate the same in accordance with the processes set forth in the zgiplications of:

Arthur A. ackh'aus and Carl Haner, J r., for process of treating distillery waste, Serial No. 203,351, filed November 22, 1917 Arthur A. Backhaus and Carl Haner, Jr., for method of treating distillery waste, Serial No. 197,885, filed October 22, 1917,

Carl Haner, Jr., for process of treating distillery waste, Serial No. 197,887, filed October 22, 1917.

Arthur A. Backhaus, for rocess of treating distillery waste, Serial roduction of oxalic .Dezso E. Kelen, for process of refining in the presence of the catalyst- 0. 197,884, filed October 22, 1917,

oxalic acid, Serial N o. 197,848,'filed October This is a divisional application of my c0- pending application upon process of producin organic acids, Serial No. 197,886, filed ctober 22, 1917.

While I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims:

1. The process which comprises producing'salts of organic acids by heating a mixture of distillery slop and a caustic alkali in the presence of manganese dioxid, at a temperature of from 160 to 250 C.

2. The process which comprises producand manganese dioxid, at a temperature of ing oxalates by heating a mixture of concenfrom 160 to 250 C. 10 trated distillery slop with a caustic alkali In testimony that I claim the foregoing I and manganese dioxid, at a temperature of have hereunto set my hand.

5 from 160 to 250 C. ARTHUR A. BACKHAUS.

3. The process which comprises produc- Witnesses: ing oxalates by heating a mixture of con- WILLIAM WATSON,

centrateddistillery slop with caustic soda LEON DAVID. 

